Betsson France secures poker licence and conditional shared-player approval
Five-year licence from 15 October 2026, with shared tables allowed subject to clearance.
Key Takeaways
- The Autorité nationale des jeux granted Betsson France a five-year poker licence starting 15 October 2026 under Decision No. 2026-171 (ref 0061-PO-2026-10-15-AGR-00).
- A conditional shared-liquidity authorisation was issued on 15 October 2026 under Decision No. 2026-172 (ref 0061-PO-LIQU-2026-10-15).
- Shared tables could include players from Spain, Italy and Portugal but require approval from each regulator and gaming software certification.
- Betsson must confirm its data archiving system is operational to trigger a six-month deadline for initial certification and complete an information-security certification within one year.
Betsson France has been granted an online poker licence by the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) and a conditional authorisation to participate in shared poker pools, the regulator decided on 15 October 2026. The licence runs for five years from 15 October 2026 and limits games to betsson.fr; shared tables remain subject to approval from every regulator involved and software certification.
Licence and official decisions
The ANJ adopted the poker licence and the conditional shared-liquidity authorisation on 15 October 2026, following an application filed on 22 June 2026. The Journal officiel published the decisions on 23 October 2026. Decision No. 2026-171 grants the poker licence under reference 0061-PO-2026-10-15-AGR-00 and runs for five years with the possibility of renewal but prohibits transfer to another operator. Decision No. 2026-172 separately grants conditional shared-liquidity authorisation under reference 0061-PO-LIQU-2026-10-15.
Betsson France must offer authorised games through betsson.fr. The licence addition brings poker to Betsson's existing French operations, which already included a fixed-odds sports betting licence dating from September 2023. Betsson entered France through a joint venture with a local partner in 2023 and does not hold a French horse racing betting licence.
Shared-player pools: conditions and framework
The conditional authorisation could permit players on betsson.fr to play at tables with participants from Spain, Italy and Portugal, but the ANJ decision does not automatically connect Betsson to those markets. Each regulator in any proposed pooling arrangement must approve the connection and the gaming software must receive certification. Betsson must notify the ANJ of changes to the liquidity-sharing agreement, including a new participant joining or termination of the contract.
The cross-border framework traces to an agreement signed on 6 July 2017 by four regulators: ARJEL (now the Autorité nationale des jeux) in France; the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) in Spain; Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) in Italy; and SRIJ, part of Turismo de Portugal, in Portugal.
Technical and pre-launch requirements
Before launching poker operations, Betsson France must confirm to the ANJ that its data archiving system is operational; that notification starts a six-month deadline for the first certification. A separate certification covering game integrity and information security must follow within one year of the licence award, and the technical certification requires annual updates.
The operator list published on 15 October 2026 places Betsson France SA alongside B.E.S. SAS, Betclic Enterprises Limited, FDJ Online Betting and Gaming France, Hillside (New Media Malta) PLC, La Française des Jeux, Pari Mutuel Urbain, Reel Malta Limited and Winamax. In its wider reporting, Betsson said it held gaming licences in 22 countries in its third-quarter 2026 report.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Betsson France's poker licence start and how long does it run?
Betsson France's poker licence starts on 15 October 2026 and runs for five years. The licence was granted by the Autorité nationale des jeux under Decision No. 2026-171, reference 0061-PO-2026-10-15-AGR-00, and it permits renewal while prohibiting transfer to another operator.
Does the ANJ approval immediately allow Betsson to run shared poker tables with other countries?
The ANJ approval does not automatically enable cross-border play; shared tables remain conditional. The conditional shared-liquidity authorisation issued on 15 October 2026 requires each involved regulator to agree and the gaming software to be certified before players on betsson.fr can join tables with participants from Spain, Italy and Portugal.
What technical steps must Betsson complete before launching poker in France?
Betsson must notify the ANJ that its data archiving system is operational, which starts a six-month deadline for the first certification. A separate certification for game integrity and information security must be completed within one year of the licence award, and that technical certification requires annual updates.
Which official decisions and publications record the licence and shared-liquidity authorisation?
The ANJ adopted the decisions on 15 October 2026 and the Journal officiel published them on 23 October 2026. The poker licence is Decision No. 2026-171 (ref 0061-PO-2026-10-15-AGR-00) and the conditional shared-liquidity authorisation is Decision No. 2026-172 (ref 0061-PO-LIQU-2026-10-15).
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Daniel Reyes
Poker Correspondent
Daniel Reyes covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT down to the daily online grind, room news, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, prize pool, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the payout structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For roster changes, software updates, and regulatory knocks on the poker economy, Daniel Reyes is the desk's first read.
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